11 a.m. Nov. 6 , 2006

Contact: Patricia Graesser 206-764-3760

SEATTLE -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency management teams are out at river basins around western Washington, monitoring levee conditions, pre-positioning sand and sandbags as well as preparing to bring in heavy equipment should it be needed. The Seattle District Reservoir Control Center began 24-hour operation Nov. 5 and will continue to operate around the clock for the foreseeable future.

The Corps is operating dams on the Green, White, Skagit and Wynoochee rivers for flood damage reduction. While the Corps can regulate flows on these rivers, the dams only regulate about 40 percent of the flows in the Skagit and White/Puyallup basins.

At 10 a.m. this morning Mud Mountain Dam on the White River had inflows of 7,000 cubic feet per second and the Corps was holding outflows to 5,700 cfs. Outflows will increase gradually until this afternoon and could go as high as 10,000 cfs.

Wynoochee Dam is receiving about 12,000 cfs of inflow, with inflows expected to rise to 17,000 cfs later this afternoon. The Corps is holding outflows from Wynoochee Dam to the minimum of 220 cfs.

Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River is receiving 6,000 cfs inflows and passing 5,000 cfs out of the dam. The forecast is for inflows as high as 10,000 cfs.

In the Skagit River basin, the Corps is regulating Upper Baker and Ross dams. At Ross, inflows are already above 14,000 cfs, and the Corps is not allowing any outflow as of this morning. Upper Baker inflows are 31,000 cfs, and outflow is being held to 17,000 cfs.

Flood fight personnel from the Corps are in Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom, Lewis, King and Pierce counties. They have been requested by local officials to provide technical assistance. The Corps is monitoring the situation throughout Western Washington.

"In most areas, we expect to see some significant rainfall and possibly significant flooding," said Corps meteorologist Larry Schick.

According to Paul Komoroske, chief of Emergency Management at the Corps' office in downtown Seattle, besides the rising river levels, the incoming storm brings debris with it that can affect levees, block drainages and cause roads and areas to flood.

"The Corps has a seasoned team of emergency responders that assist in floods and natural disasters," said Komoroske.

The National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings and should be consulted for that information.